Indonesian minister ‘attacked’ by Ford

AFP, JAKARTA

Thu, Sep 12, 2013 - Page 6

Indonesian Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan has accused Hollywood legend Harrison Ford of subjecting him to a rude interview on climate change that left him “shocked,” an official said on Tuesday.

The Indiana Jones actor, who is making part of an environmental documentary in Indonesia, attacked the minister with questions during the encounter on Monday, presidential advisor Andi Arief said.

The adviser accused Ford and his crew of “harassing state institutions” and said the 71-year-old could be deported, although he was due to leave Indonesia that day anyway.

“His emotions were running very high,” Hasan was quoted as saying by the state-run Antara news agency. “I understand the American man just came here to see Tesso Nilo [a national park on Sumatra Island] and wanted violators to be caught the same day.”

The minister added he was not given the chance to explain the challenges of catching people who break environmental laws in Indonesia’s sprawling rainforests.

“I was only given the opportunity to say one or two sentences during the interview,” he said.

Arief said Hasan thought there would have been some time to discuss the interview before it began, but in the event he was “shocked that as soon as his [Ford’s] crew came in, they started filming and interviewing him ... and attacking him with questions.”

“There’s no privilege for him although he is a great a actor,” he said. “His crew and those who were helping him in Indonesia must be questioned to find out their motives for harassing a state institution. If necessary, we will deport him.”

Ford has traveled to several places in Indonesia to make part of a US series on climate change called Years of Living Dangerously.